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Presented by Facebook: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross and Eli Okun | | | BUSINESS IS BOOMING — President JOE BIDEN received a strong jobs report this morning, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the U.S. economy gained 943,000 jobs in July — the largest single-month gain since August 2020 — and an unemployment rate of 5.4%, a new pandemic low. More from CNN — What we know: The number of new jobs surpassed economists’ projections by more than 70,000, and June’s number was also bumped up, signaling the continued rebuilding of the American workforce over the early summer. — What we don’t know: How the latest surge of coronavirus cases from the Delta variant will impact this trajectory. Speaking at the White House, Biden — who donned a tan suit for the occasion — walked a tightrope, celebrating the jobs numbers without declaring mission accomplished or suggesting that the economic growth dulls the need for major spending on infrastructure. “While our economy is far from complete, and while we undoubtedly will have ups and downs along the way as we continue to fight the Delta surge of Covid, what is indisputable now is this: The Biden plan is working,” Biden said. “Even so, my message today is not one of celebration. It is one to remind us we have a lot of hard work left to be done. Both to beat the Delta variant, and to continue our advance of economic recovery. We all know what it starts with. As I’ve said again and again: This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL … Speaker NANCY PELOSI had her Friday morning presser. — Asked whether the House could be called back from recess early to vote on the infrastructure packages if the Senate passes them on to the lower chamber: “Let’s see what happens,” Pelosi said. “We’re going to do this when we can do it all.” Pelosi also dispatched two tokens that could be taken as her guiding principles: — First, she was asked about her conversations with Rep. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) over the eviction moratorium, which Bush and other progressives protested while demanding Pelosi call members back for a vote. “There was a strategy of, ‘Let's go to the floor and lose,’” Pelosi said. “I don't go to the floor and lose .” Pelosi, of course, pressed the White House into action instead. Related reading: “I slept on the Capitol steps because I’ve been evicted three times in my life,” by Cori Bush for CNN — Pelosi also voiced support for DCCC Chair SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (D-N.Y.) following a report by our colleagues Sarah Ferris and Heather Caygle that Maloney has privately warned Dems that they’re at risk of losing the majority. “I always run from behind. So I have no comment about my colleague except to say he’s a great chair of the DCCC,” Pelosi said. “But in terms of the specifics where he was drilling in on, always run scared.” HOW BIF PLAYS ON THE TRAIL — “GOP Senate candidates align with Trump in bashing bipartisan infrastructure bill,” by CNN’s Manu Raju and Alex Rogers: “The divide between Republicans on Capitol Hill and in Senate primaries isn't unique to Ohio, reflecting how Trump's influence now largely rests with the primary electorate, rather than with sitting GOP senators. … “In intraparty contests throughout the country, Republican candidates are lining up against the bipartisan deal — and lining up with Trump — reflecting not only the heightened partisanship in American politics but also how primaries incentivize candidates to demonstrate purity to their base voters.” CUOMO LATEST — “Cuomo Aide Who Says He Groped Her Files Criminal Complaint in Albany,” by NYT’s Jonah Bromwich and Luis Ferré-Sadurní: “A woman who accused Gov. ANDREW M. CUOMO of groping her breast in the Executive Mansion last year has filed a criminal complaint with the Albany County sheriff’s department, the sheriff’s office said on Friday. “The criminal complaint from the woman, an executive assistant whose name has not been publicized, increases the possibility that the governor could face criminal charges related to his behavior. Legal experts have said that his conduct toward the assistant, as described in a 165-page report released by the New York State attorney general’s office this week, could be charged as forcible touching, a misdemeanor.” Happy Friday afternoon. | | A message from Facebook: The internet has changed a lot since 1996 - internet regulations should too
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– Reforming Section 230 | | | STORY OF THE DAY WaPo’s Ben Terris takes readers on a rollicking tour of Sen. JOE MANCHIN’s elusive houseboat, which has become, as Terris writes, “a crucial destination for members of Official Washington.” IS THIS HEAVEN? NO, IT’S ALMOST — “Washington’s hottest club is Joe Manchin’s houseboat”: “Climb aboard the Almost Heaven, which is somewhere between a trawler and a yacht, big and boxy. Step inside the cabin and marvel at the creature comforts: a semicircular, plush-leather couch with a matching ottoman, glass cabinets trimmed with dark wood, a marble dining-room table with thick white candles and a box of blue-and-white cocktail napkins with red cursive lettering: ‘Welcome aboard Almost Heaven.’ Below deck, the master bedroom is cozy but well-appointed, with an abundance of throw pillows. … “Up on the party deck, amid the wrought-iron chairs and tables with umbrellas, you might see Trump-allied Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-Ala.), just months removed from objecting to President Biden’s election, talking college football with Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG. … And hey, look at that view! On one evening cruise, some years back, Sen. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-Alaska) was so moved by the picturesque Washington skyline that she began singing ‘God Bless America.’ And see this chair here? Sen. TED CRUZ (R-Texas) is said to have once rested his foot atop this seat, standing in the Captain Morgan pose, polishing off three beers in a matter of minutes while talking to one of his most liberal colleagues, then-senator TOM HARKIN (D-Iowa).” Featuring further cameos of CHUCK SCHUMER singing “American Pie,” Manchin singing “SOB” and more. PANDEMIC USA Today doesn’t mince words with its front page today: | 
| — “Vaccine demand jumps in states pummeled by Delta variant,” by Dan Goldberg and Tucker Doherty: “The number of Americans receiving a first vaccine dose each week has nearly doubled over the last month. … But whether the recent spike in demand will meaningfully boost vaccination rates, which are still below 50 percent in more than a dozen states, remains to be seen.” THE DELTA DEFENSE — “DOJ defends Biden eviction ban in court, warning of Delta threat,” by Katy O’Donnell: “The Justice Department on Friday urged a federal court to keep the Biden administration’s new eviction moratorium in place to help protect Americans from becoming homeless during a resurgence of Covid-19. “DOJ was responding to a lawsuit brought by the Alabama and Georgia chapters of the National Association of Realtors, who argue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacked the power to impose the ban. In justifying the new ban after the Supreme Court warning signs, government lawyers said in a filing Friday that ‘the trajectory of the pandemic has changed dramatically as a result of the highly contagious Delta variant.’” DISSENT IN THE RANKS — “Potential military vaccine mandate brings distrust, support,” by AP’s Julie Watson in San Diego: “Since President Joe Biden asked the Pentagon last week to look at adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the military’s mandatory shots, former Army lawyer GREG T. RINCKEY has fielded a deluge of calls. His firm, Tully Rinckey, has heard from hundreds of soldiers, Marines and sailors wanting to know their rights and whether they could take any legal action if ordered to get inoculated for the coronavirus. “‘A lot of U.S. troops have reached out to us saying, “I don’t want a vaccine that’s untested, I’m not sure it’s safe, and I don’t trust the government’s vaccine. What are my rights?”’ Rinckey said. Generally, their rights are limited since vaccines are widely seen as essential for the military to carry out its missions, given that service members often eat, sleep and work in close quarters.” | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | THE WHITE HOUSE A SAUD SITUATION — “9/11 families to President Biden: Don’t come to our memorial events,” by NBC’s Courtney Kube: “Nearly 1,800 Americans directly affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are opposing President Joe Biden’s participation in any memorial events this year unless he upholds his pledge to declassify U.S. government evidence that they believe may show a link between Saudi Arabian leaders and the attacks. “The victims’ family members, first responders and survivors will release a statement Friday calling on Biden to skip 20th-anniversary events in New York and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon unless he releases the documents, which they believe implicate Saudi officials in supporting the acts of terrorism.” INFRASTRUCTURE YEAR WHAT BIF WON’T SOLVE — “An Obstacle to Amtrak Expansion That Money Won’t Solve,” by NYT’s Madeleine Ngo: “The conflict underscores a persistent challenge for Amtrak. Although the infrastructure deal the Biden administration reached with a bipartisan group of senators last week would help fulfill the agency’s elusive goal of expanding across the nation, one of the biggest obstacles would be negotiating with private freight rail companies. “The issue is coming to the fore as lawmakers seek to pass a crucial part of President Biden’s agenda that would inject billions in federal money to bolster the United States’ aging public works system. Under the bill, $66 billion in new funding would go to rail, which includes money to help Amtrak expand nationwide and address its maintenance backlog.” POLICY CORNER IMMIGRATION FILES — “Biden Administration Is Still Struggling to Care for Migrant Children,” by NYT’s Eileen Sullivan: “At an emergency shelter in the Texas desert, migrant teenagers are housed in long, wide trailers, with little space for recreation and not much to do during the hot summer days, according to lawyers and other advocates for the children who have visited them there. “Some of the children say they can wait more than a month before meeting with someone who can help connect them with a family member or other sponsor inside the United States. Some report episodes of food poisoning and say they have to wash their clothes in a bathroom sink.” WHAT THEY’RE READING IN DETROIT — “How Biden’s E.V. Plan Could Help Tesla and Squeeze Toyota,” by NYT’s Jack Ewing and Neal Boudette: “Mr. Biden’s announcement is good news for Tesla, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the battery-powered cars sold in the United States, and potentially bad news for Toyota Motor, the world’s largest automaker, which will not begin selling a car powered solely by batteries in the United States until next year. “In between are General Motors, Ford Motor and Volkswagen, which have begun selling tens of thousands of electric cars but depend on vehicles with internal combustion engines for most of their revenue and profit. It is by no means certain that the familiar car brands will be dividing the expanding market for electric vehicles among themselves.” | | | | Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today . | | | | | POLITICS ROUNDUP 2022 WATCH — “Conor Lamb launching Senate bid in Pennsylvania,” by James Arkin: “Rep. CONOR LAMB is launching his long-expected Senate bid in Pennsylvania Friday, joining the crowded Democratic field in a state that is critical for the party as it seeks to protect or expand its narrow Senate majority. “Lamb, 37, a Marine and former prosecutor, rose to prominence when he won a nationally-watched House special election in 2018 months before the party flipped control of the chamber. He won reelection in 2018 and narrowly captured a second full term last year. Lamb, in an interview prior to his official launch, highlighted his string of competitive House victories as a strength in the Senate race, and said he’s running because he’s grown frustrated by House-passed legislation that falls flat in the upper chamber.” Lamb’s announcement video 2024 WATCH — “Meet the new Iowa caucus ambassador for 2024 GOP hopefuls,” by Olivia Beavers in Sioux Center, Iowa: “Freshman Rep. RANDY FEENSTRA likes to call himself a ‘minnow’ in Washington’s political pond. But back home, the Iowan has emerged as a prized catch in the 2024 Republican presidential campaign. “An array of potential presidential contenders is already seeking to make inroads with Feenstra — and, by extension, the state that will hold the first GOP presidential nominating contest in 2024. … Feenstra, 52, represents the solid-red northwest corner of Iowa, the most Republican-heavy district in the state. The conservative, evangelical-heavy region is key to landing a top spot in the Iowa caucuses, and Iowa itself is a launchpad for the rest of the presidential campaign.” PLAYBOOKERS MEDIA MOVES — Hailey Fuchs and Bernadette Hogan are joining POLITICO. Fuchs will be a national political correspondent covering the Republican Party and previously was the Rosenbaum Fellow at the New York Times. Hogan will cover money and politics and previously was a political reporter for the New York Post. TRANSITION — Daniel Scarpinato is joining Ascent Media as a partner. He most recently was deputy COS for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and is an NRCC alum. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Robert Cogan of Salt River Project’s federal affairs team and Katie Cogan, an aide at the Supreme Court, welcomed Chase Robert Cogan on Wednesday. He came in at 6 lbs, 10 oz and 19.5 inches. 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